Six talented authors make your Christmas lights twinkle with these modern-day adaptations of Jane Austen’s novels. Curl up with some peppermint tea and enjoy something special in your stocking this holiday season.*****The Work of an Instantby Jennifer BectonWhen Frederick Wentworth’s ship docks at the Navy base in Charleston just in time for Christmas, Anne Elliot feels torn between desire to see … feels torn between desire to see her former fiancé and fear of rejection. Will taking a risk end in humiliation or give Anne a second chance with her first love? To find out, all she has to do is turn around and face him.
Mischief and Mistletoe
by Melissa Buell
Thrifty designer and secret Gothic novel enthusiast Cate Morland gets the opportunity of a lifetime to plan the costumes for the upcoming Dickens’ Christmas Festival. There she meets Henry Tilney who shows an interest in more than Cate’s costume designs. Mistaken by Henry’s father as a rich heiress, Cate is invited to stay with the Tilney family at their estate. Will Henry feel the same for Cate once he discovers she is a seamstress paying her own way through design school?
A Tale of Three Christmases
by Rebecca M. Fleming
When their father dies, leaving their brother everything, life changes radically for the Dashwood girls. Librarian Ellie and musician Marianne have their work of course, but what about teenage Maggie? Maggie only has her writing—a surprising saving grace that helps her chronicle the ups and downs of life, love and family in this tale of three Christmases.
With Love, from Emma
by Cecilia Gray
A visit to Emma Gold’s flower shop can save a relationship but a date at Lance Knightley’s bar can take that relationship to the next level, so who should be considered Heartfield, Oregon’s resident romance expert? Emma and Lance square off at their best friends’ wedding to settle the score. Sparks fly as bets are made and favors are won in this contemporary Christmas retelling, recounted With Love, from Emma.
It’s a Wonderful Latte
by Jessica Grey
Evie St. Laurent can always count on three things: being single during Christmas in Los Angeles, her job as manager at Mansfield Perk, and Frank Nakatomi, her best friend and coworker, cheering her up when she’s down. But when the glamorous Piper siblings come to town and sweep everyone off their feet, what Evie thought was sure in her life starts slipping away. It will take some Christmas magic and the help of a very special angel named Jane to help Evie see that the love she’s been waiting for has been there all the time.
Pride & Presents
by Kimberly Truesdale
Liz Bennet wants to make this Christmas the best that Longbourn Community Center has ever had. When basketball superstar Charles Bingley shows up to volunteer, it looks like that just might happen—even in spite of his unhelpful friend Will Darcy. But when everything starts to go wrong and Longbourn itself is in danger, Liz must set aside her pride and ask for help. Then she’ll discover that the best presents are the ones you never expect.
Approximate Word Count: 79k
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Six authors and six modern day Christmas adaptations of Austen’s novels.
I decided to read Christmas stories during the month of December and this was a delightful pastime. The stories were short, clean, held fairly close to Austen’s intend if not close to canon. There were liberties taken, but the tone was Austenesque. Do take note of a certain thread throughout the stories that created a common link between the stories. A certain coffee shop and a certain online clothing enterprise sort of pops up throughout the stories. It is so cute to run into it and see how each author incorporated it into their story. It had to be planned. I think it was so cute that they decided to do it.
1) The Work of An Instant: Jennifer Becton: ends at 14%
This was a variation of Persuasion where we have many of the characters from that book presented in different ways. This was set in a modern-day Christmas season with a Santa that seemed to be everywhere and there was something a little bit different about him. This was military themed, NAVY in particular for those who are military minded. Wentworth was a superior officer and man… was he ever swoon worthy, especially in his dress whites.
2) Mischief and Mistletoe: Melissa Buell: ends at 32%
This modern variation of Northanger Abbey was delightful. I loved Catherine Morland, Mr. and Mrs. Allen, Eleanor and Henry Tilney. The villains were consistent to their characters in canon… Isabella and John Thorpe, Frederick and General Tilney. Note: General Tilney went to a conference of retired Naval Personnel. However, the Navy does not have the rank of General, the equivalent would be Admiral. That was not made clear in the text. The tone followed canon even in its modern rendition. It was cute.
3) A Tale of Three Christmases: Rebecca M. Fleming: ends at 42%
The next variation was of Sense & Sensibility with the Dashwood family as they endure the passing of their father. I have to say; a reader would need prior knowledge of the S&S story in order to understand what was going on. Due to the short-story length, the drama moved quickly and the barest of information was given, causing it to come across as disjointed and confusing.
The story covered a three-year period of time as it described three Christmases through the POV of Maggie, the younger Dashwood sister. Surprisingly there were threads that were common to the previous stories and I found those delightful. We had the usual cast of characters and villains. We had John and Fanny Dashwood taking over Norland after the death of his father. Lucie Steele visited and caused trouble… and she was a piece of work. Then we had the Ferrars brothers, Robert and Edward. Wills [Willoughby] was more evil than canon, if you can imagine that. There was a delightful play on words for names… such as Brandon Delaford. It was so charming the way the author played with the canon story and characters.
4) With Love, From Emma by Cecilia Gray: ends at 63%
This was a delightful modern Emma. I loved Lance, the Mr. Knightley character. We have the usual matchmaking that results in a West and Taylor hook up, only that was their first names. Lance and Emma fight or joust throughout the story, like in canon. Harriet and Elton factor into the story with Emma misunderstanding the feelings and attractions of both, which catches her completely by surprise. As in canon I love the scene where Lance [Mr. Knightley] tells Emma he does not wish to be her friend. Oh, be still my heart.
I love the continuation of that common thread that runs through all the stories linking them in a really charming way. It solidifies the connection of community and it left the reader with a feeling of joy and surprise when those names were mentioned.
5) It’s a Wonderful Latte by Jessica Grey: ends at 79%
This was a very strange mash-up of ‘It’s a Wonderful Life’ and ‘Mansfield Park.’ In this story, similar to the angel Clarence, who was sent back to earth to help George Bailey, Jane Austen was sent back on assignment to help our heroin Evie with life issues of her own. It was just a bit weird for me and I found it difficult to follow. We had references to Mansfield Park and the characters of Fannie and Edmund. We also had a too smooth brother and sister act similar to the Crawfords.
Once again, I ran across those threads that are common to all the stories that keep popping up and are so cute.
6) Pride and Presents by Kimberly Truesdale: ends at 98%
This Pride and Prejudice retelling had the Bennet family owning and working at a non-profit Community Center for children and their families. All the P&P characters are present with a few ethnic changes that make for a different story. The basic personalities and traits are intact and our story moves forward on the same threads that pushed our story in canon. Collins and Wickham are still the same villainous miscreants with evil intent. Wickham tells lies to garner the sympathy and acceptance of the Bennet family. He successfully convinces Lydia to allow him into the office where he steals paperwork necessary to their keeping the center. We also know what will happen when Darcy finds out.
Those common threads continue through this story as well. It is so cute to find them in the text.